This 70+ year old red oak grew at an angle that is conveniently curved towards my house. A tree company said "tear it down or it will fall, destroy your house, and potentially kill everyone inside"
The quote was $7000 since access to the tree is tough (narrow side yards). I decided to have not one, but three more opinions. Two ISA arborists and one TRAQ certified arborists with 50 years experience looked at it. Their findings? Keep the tree!
I've been browsing this subreddit a lot since this tree started to worry me, and I'm so happy I did because now I know some good arborists to reach out to every year or two to monitor it.
The only part I have to get used to is that we are on a ridge, fear of lightning hitting it, and fear of the "50+ wind gusts". The tree also is doing the hard work of holding up the hillside my house sits upon.
The TRAQ arborist went as far to say "if I had this situation in my own yard, I'd keep the tree"
I'm now feeling a lot more educated and curious about trees in general and how to be a good steward to the trees around me.
by Kindly-Definition725
4 Comments
Everyone needs a character tree
Good! Red oak are such respectable trees and should be left and planted when ever possible! Gorgeous tree
I learned at the age of 6 to accept my curved oak.
Maybe start planting a few more short trees to help the hillside in case it ever does come down